Data designation device



July 9, 1968 1 C CRAINE 3,391,462

DATA DESIGNATION DEVICE Filed DGO. 15, 1965 United States Patent O 3,391,462 DA'IA DESIGNATION DEVICE John C. Craine, Lombard, lll., assignor to Advertising Metal Display Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of linois Filed Dec. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 513,313 2 Claims. (Cl. Sii-143) The present invention relates generally to a data designation device and, more specifically, to such a device adapted to designate characteristic data for flexible loop elements, such as O-rings and fan belts. While not so limited in its uses, the device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention iinds particularly advantageous utilization by automotive, industrial and commercial jobbers, distributors and wholesalers, for example, in the designation of component or part numbers for exible loop elements, such as O-rings and fan belts.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved data designation device. More specifically, it is an object to provide such a device which is adapted to designate characteristic data for exible loop elements. In this latter connection, it is an object to provide such a device which is utilizable to designate characteristic data for flexible loop elements, such as O-rings, fan belts and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as set -forth above which iinds particularly advantageous utilization in the designation of component or part numbers for flexible loop elements, such as O-rings, fan belts and the like.

A more specic object is to provide such a device which facilitates the checking of part numbers for flexible loop members.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved data designation device characterized in its simplicity, economy, ease of manufacture and ease of operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawing.

In one form of the present invention, a data designation device is provided for flexible loop elements which includes a main panel having a data chart provided on one face thereof and an indicator panel which is mounted for movement along the one face ofthe main panel. Means are provided for supporting a flexible loop element between the main panel and the indicator panel so that the element may be tensioned responsive to movement of the indicator panel along the main panel and data relating to the element is designated by the indicator panel when the element is tensioned. The device may be provided with means for mounting the device on a desired wall or surface.

For the purpose of providing a detailed description of a data designation device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, reference will now be made to the drawing wherein:

FIGURE l is a perspective view of a data designation device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention illustrating the device in its nondesignating condition;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view corresponding to that shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the device in its designating condition; and

FIG. 3 is a View taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

While the invention has been shown and will be described in some detail with reference to a particular exemplary embodiment thereof, there is no intention that it be limited to such detail. Quite to the contrary, it is 3,391,452 Patented July 9, 1968 ice intended here to embrace all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as delined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawing, a data designation device 10 is shown which is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. It will be assumed that the exemplary device 10 is set up to designate characteristic data, such as the part numbers, for llexible loop elements, such as O-rings, fan belts and the like. The device includes a main panel 12 having a data chart 14 provided on one face thereof. In the exemplary arrangement, the data chart 14 is formed separately and is suitably secured to the main panel 12 (FIG. 3). However, it will be apparent that the data chart may be formed directly upon one face of the main panel.

For the purpose of designating desired data on the data chart during a data designation operation, the data designation device 10 includes an indicator panel 16 which is mounted for sliding movement along the face of the main panel on which the data chart 14 is provided. In order to allow for mounting the indicator panel in this manner, a track, within which the indicator panel 16 is mounted, is formed along the length of the main panel 12. In the exemplary arrangement, parallel edges 12a and 12b of the main panel 12 are rolled over, as best viewed in FIG. 3, to define the track 15.

In accordance with a principal aspect of the present invention, means are provided for supporting a ilexible loop element 20, such as an O-ring or a fan belt, between the main panel 12 and the indicator panel 16 so that the element 20 may be tensioned therebetween responsive to movement of the indicator panel along the main panel and data relating to the element is designated -on the data chart by the indicator panel when the element is tensioned. In the exemplary arrangement, the supporting means includes a pulley 22, suitably mounted on the main panel 12, and a like pulley 24 of substantially the same diameter as pulley 22, suitably mounted on the indicator panel 16.

In operation of the data designation device 10, a desired iiexible loop element 20, such as an O-ring or a fan belt, is positioned around the pulleys 22 land 24, as viewed in FIG. 1, so that portions of its inner peripheral edge are received Within the pulleys. An operator then slides the indicator panel 16 to the right, as viewed in FIG. l until the flexible loop element 20` is extended to the taut, tensioned position as shown in FIG. 2. In other Words, the flexible loop element 20 is extended to its normal, elongated, nonstretched condition, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the element is tightly tensioned and is not stretched, but rather is merely attened out or in other words the element 20 is tensioned so that the opposed sides are rendered substantially visually parallel. At this time, the left hand edge of the indicator panel 16, as viewed in FIG. 2, designates data on the data chart 14 which relates to the element 20, the vertically disposed data immediately adjacent the left hand edge of the indicator panel 16 being the designated data. As previously mentioned, the data may relate to any desired characteristic of the element 20, such as the part number thereof.

In the exemplary arrangement, the data chart 14 includes four horizontally disposed rows of data which may, for example, relate to data for flexible loop elements formed of material having different cross-sectional diameters, the different diameters being indicated at the lefthand end of the main panel 12 in FIGS. l and 2. Consequently, with the exemplary data chart, the desired data will be designated and read from the pertinent row of data immediately adjacent the left hand edge of the indicator panel 16.

For the purpose of mounting the data designation device 10 on a desired surface or wall, suitable mounting brackets 26 may, for example, be provided at opposite ends of the device.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that a data designation device has been provided which is adapted to designate characteristic data for llexible loop elements, such ias O-rings and fan belts. More specilically, it will be seen that a data designation device has been provided which may be utilized in the separating and sorting of flexible loop elements of this type. Further, it will be seen that a data designation device has been provided which allows for and facilitates the checking of part numbers or the like for exible loop elements. It will be apparent that, while the data designation device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention nds particular advantageous utilization in the checking of the part numbers of flexible loop elements, it is adapted to be utilized for designating any desired characteristic data for such elements.

What is claimed is:

1. A data designation device for testing flexible stretchable loop elements comprising a longitudinally extending main panel having its longitudinal edges inwardly rolled defining upper and lower track means, an indicator panel slidably mounted within said track means, a data chart on said main panel located intermediate said upper and lower track means and intermediate the ends of said main panel, a first pulley mounted on said main panel and located adjacent said data chart, a second pulley of essentially the same diameter mounted on said indicator panel in substantially horizontal alignment with said first pulley, whereby size data on a flexible loop element may be determined by positioning the exible loop element around said pulleys and sliding said indicator panel along said track means so that the loop element is taut and Where opposed sides thereof are rendered substantially visually parallel and whereby the appropriate data is designated on the data chart by the indicator panel.

2. A data designation device according to claim 1 which includes bracket means carried by the said main panel for mounting the device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,816,695 7/1931 Pope.

2,044,983 6/ 1936 Hedgpeth 33-125 2,241,979 5/1941 Case 33-125 2,844,430 7/1958 Bogar 30S-3.6 3,133,768 5/1964 Klakovich 30S-3.6 3,138,876 6/ 1964 Graham.

RICHARD C. QUEISSER, Primary Examiner.

J. H. WILLIAMSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DATA DESIGNATION DEVICE FOR TESTING FLEXIBLE STRETCHABLE LOOP ELEMENTS COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING MAIN PANEL HAVING ITS LONGITUDINAL EDGES INWARDLY ROLLED DEFINING UPPER AND LOWER TRACK MEANS, AN INDICATOR PANEL SLIDABLY MOUNTED WITHIN SAID TRACK MEANS, A DATA CHART ON SAID MAIN PANEL LOCATED INTERMEDIATE SAID UPPER AND LOWER TRACK MEANS AND INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID MAIN PANEL, A FIRST PULLEY MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN PANEL AND LOCATED ADJACENT SAID DATA CHART, A SECOND PULLEY OF ESSENTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER MOUNTED ON SAID INDICATOR PANEL IN SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST PULLEY, WHEREBY SIZE DATA ON A FLEXIBLE LOOP ELEMENT MAY BE DETERMINED BY POSITIONING THE FLEXIBLE LOOP ELEMENT AROUND SAID PULLEYS AND SLIDING SAID INDICATOR PANEL ALONG SAID TRACK MEANS SO THAT THE LOOP ELEMENT IS TAUT AND WHERE OPPOSED SIDES THEREOF ARE RENDERED SUBSTANTIALLY VISUALLY PARALLEL AND WHEREBY THE APPROPRIATE DATA IS DESIGNATED ON THE DATA CHART BY THE INDICATOR PANEL. 